[ScottM]

Snookerd,
Remember total cost of ownership here. The 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke thing is similar to the gas vs. diesel argument for inboards. If you're only using a boat 50-100 hours per year like many people in the Northeast, the additional cost of the 4-stroke, including a more rigorous maintenance schedule, may never be recovered when compared to the cost of a similar size 2-stroke. On the flip side, if, like SeaTow, you're running every day of the year, the 4-strokes are a no-brainer.